Decentralized interlocking

Abstract

 The present invention proposes a method and an interlocking track device (11) for establishing and managing a route (4) for an approaching guided vehicle (3) at an interlocking area (1), said interlocking track device (11) comprising:
- a wireless communication device (22) for remotely communicating with at least one guided vehicle;
- an intelligent control system (23) configured for managing a request for reservation of the approaching guided vehicle (3), wherein said intelligent control system (23) is able to determine whether said reservation temporally overlaps with another reservation, said intelligent control system (23) comprising :
■ a memory for recording said reservation if and only if no overlap has been determined;
■ a command module configured for locking the interlocking track device (11) according to each reservation recorded in said memory.

Description

[0001] The present invention concerns a method and a system for managing an interlocking according to claims 1 and 8.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates more generally to the management of train routes at interlocking areas and preventing conflicting train movements.

[0003] An interlocking is conventionally an arrangement of switch, lock and signal devices, i.e. a group of track devices, that is located where rail tracks cross, join, separate, and so on. Said devices are interconnected in such a way that their movements succeed each other in a predefined order, thereby preventing opposing or conflicting train movements and establishing a specific route for each train having to pass said interlocking. Said track devices are usually controlled by wayside interlocking control systems which are responsible for handling and managing the devices of the interlocking according to an interlocking logic and train movements while assuming train safety. Thus, the interlocking logic is at the basis of the management of the state of the interlocking, and thus of its devices.

[0004] The interlocking and the wayside interlocking control system are vital devices involved in the management of train routes at interlocking areas. Unfortunately, they are also complex devices requiring specific wiring architecture and the dispatching of interlocking data.

[0005] Consequently, there is a standing need for developing a simple, cost effective and efficient interlocking control system allowing train routes management.

[0006] It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a method and a system for managing an interlocking at an interlocking area in an efficient, flexible, cost effective way, having a simple architecture, and which avoid the above-mentioned problems.

[0007] This objective is achieved according to an interlocking track device configured for establishing and managing a route for an approaching guided vehicle at an interlocking area, said interlocking track device comprising:

• a wireless communication device for remotely communicating with at least one guided vehicle. In particular, said wireless communication device is also capable of communicating with a wireless communication device of at least another interlocking track device for coherently establishing a route for the approaching guided vehicle at the Interlocking area;
• an intelligent control system configured for managing a request for reservation of the interlocking track device for the approaching guided vehicle, wherein said intelligent control system is able to determine whether said reservation temporally overlaps with another reservation and comprises

  ■ a memory for recording said reservation if and only if no overlap has been determined by the intelligent control system, wherein said reservation comprises in particular a temporal starting point T1 and a duration D1;

  ■ a command module configured for locking the interlocking track device according to each reservation recorded in said memory.

[0008] The objective is also achieved according to the present invention with respect to the method by a method for establishing and managing a route at an interlocking area for an approaching guided vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

• a wireless reception by an interlocking track device of the interlocking area of a request for a reservation of the interlocking track device, wherein said reservation comprises in particular a temporal starting point T1 and a duration D1 for locking the interlocking track device from said temporal starting point T1 for said duration D1 and wherein said request is remotely and wirelessly sent by the approaching guided vehicle;
• a determination whether a temporal overlap of said reservation with another reservation occurs, wherein said another reservation is recorded in a memory of the interlocking track device and comprises in particular another temporal starting point T2 and another duration D2; and

  ■ if no overlap is determined, then recording said reservation in the memory and wirelessly confirming the reservation to the approaching guided vehicle;

  ■ if an overlap is determined, then returning to said approaching guided vehicle a message rejecting its request;

• a control and/or a command of the interlocking track device, for example by an intelligent control system of the interlocking track device, according to each recorded reservation for locking and releasing the interlocking track device. In particular, the intelligent control system is able to control and command the interlocking track device so that its status, i.e. lock or release, over time is conformed to a time dependent status comprised in the reservation for the approaching guided vehicle.

[0009] The expression "guided vehicle" refers to a vehicle configured for following a guide or a succession of guides which determine at least one route for the guided vehicle. Said guide is for example a rail, or a line on the ground, or specific panels/signals defining a route for the guided vehicle, etc., and said guided vehicle is for example a train, a metro, a bus, a tram, or an automatic guided vehicle. The interlocking track device is a track device configured for establishing a route for an approaching guided vehicle. Typical track devices are switches, lock and signal track devices.

[0010] According to the present invention, each track device of an interlocking of an interlocking area is able to self-handle the management of its usage for a route for an approaching guided vehicle. In particular, the interlocking track device is able to handle several requests of several approaching guided vehicles at the same time. Therefore the interlocking track device itself is self-sufficient for determining its status (lock or release over time) in function of the received reservations and for handling a request of an approaching guided vehicle.

[0011] Preferentially, a reservation according to the invention comprises an identification of the approaching guided vehicle, a temporal starting point T1 and duration D1 for locking the interlocking track device from said temporal starting point T1 for said duration D1 for the approaching guided vehicle. In particular, said reservation comprises data for configuring the route at the interlocking area, and notably determining the status over time, i.e. lock or release, of each interlocking track device at said interlocking area and in function of said route.

[0012] Preferentially, the interlocking track device is autonomous in that it has its own intelligence through said intelligent control system for handling requests of approaching guided vehicles. It is for example also capable to communicate with another interlocking track device of said interlocking area for determining if the requested route defined at said interlocking area for the approaching guided vehicle is not conflicting with another route defined at the same interlocking area and requested by another approaching guided vehicle.

[0013] Preferentially, the method according to the invention comprises a cancellation of a recorded reservation for a specific approaching guided vehicle, and returning to said specific approaching guided vehicle a high priority message announcing said cancellation. For example, such a cancellation might be done if conflicted routes are detected at an interlocking area by the intelligent control system of the interlocking track device.

[0014] Preferentially, the command module of the intelligent control system is able to release the interlocking track device once the approaching guided vehicle passed said interlocking device. In particular, a reception of a message sent by the approaching guided vehicle once it passed the interlocking comprising said interlocking track device, or a verification performed by the interlocking track device that the approaching guided vehicle passed said interlocking, or both the reception and the verification, may activate the release of the interlocking track device by the command module. Therefore, the intelligent control system is capable of commanding the release of the route at the interlocking area once the approaching guided vehicle passed said interlocking, for instance upon reception of said message or upon detection that the guided vehicle passed the interlocking track device.

[0015] Preferentially, the communication device of the interlocking track device is wirelessly connectable to an approaching guided vehicle. Indeed, said communication device is in particular able to wirelessly and directly communicate with an onboard communication device of a guided vehicle for directly receiving from said approaching guided vehicle said request for reservation, or for directly sending to the approaching guided vehicle a message configured for confirming or rejecting the request, or for directly sending to the approaching vehicle a high priority message for cancelling a reservation. Preferentially, temporally successive requests are treated by the interlocking track device in their temporal order of succession, i.e. in their order of reception at the wireless communication device, and/or according to a priority ranking. In particular, simultaneous requests are treated according to a priority ranking, and if they have a same rank of priority, according to a position of the approaching guided vehicle (3) compared to the position of the interlocking area (1), wherein the position refers to a geographic location.

[0016] Finally, the present invention is also related to a system for managing a route for a guided vehicle approaching an interlocking area, wherein the system comprises:

• an onboard control system configured for being mounted onboard said guided vehicle, said onboard control system being capable to wirelessly and remotely communicate with a wireless communication device of the interlocking track device as previously described, the onboard control system being further able to create and send a request to the wireless communication device for reserving said interlocking track device according to a predetermined route, which might be determined notably by said onboard control system, as well as a temporal starting point T1 and a duration D1 for locking the interlocking track device;
• said interlocking track device as previously described.

[0017] The present invention will be better understood through the following drawing:

Figure 1

schematic representation of an interlocking area comprising interlocking track devices according to the invention.

[0018] Figure 1 shows an interlocking area 1 comprising interlocking track devices 11, 12 according to the present invention, for example a switch 11 and a signal track device 12. The interlocking track device is configured for establishing and managing a route 4 for an approaching guided vehicle 3 which is approaching said interlocking area 1. Each interlocking track device 11, 12 according to the invention comprises:

• a wireless communication device 22 for remotely communicating with at least one guided vehicle, e.g. said approaching guided vehicle 3, and at least another interlocking track device belonging to said interlocking area 1. The wireless communication device 22 is notably able to communicate with a communication device 211 or an onboard control system 21 of the approaching guided vehicle 3;
• an intelligent control system 23 configured for managing a request for reservation of the interlocking track device 11, 12 for the approaching guided vehicle 3, wherein said intelligent control system 23 is able to determine whether said reservation temporally overlaps with another reservation for another guided vehicle. Said request for reservation being for example sent by the communication device 211 of the onboard control system 21 of the approaching guided vehicle 3, wherein the onboard control system 21 is notably able to determine said route 4 for the guided vehicle 3 at each interlocking area 1 and to communicate with each interlocking track device 11, 12 data for establishing said route 4 at said interlocking area 1. The intelligent control system 23 comprises moreover a memory for recording the reservation if and only if no overlap is determined by the intelligent control system, and a command module configured for locking the interlocking track device according to each reservation recorded in said memory. The reservation comprises data for identifying the approaching guided vehicle 3, and temporal data, i.e. a temporal starting point T1 and a duration D1 indicating respectively from when the interlocking track device 11, 12 shall be locked and for which duration.

[0019] According to the present invention, if another guided vehicle requests the usage of the interlocking track device 11, 12, said interlocking track device 11, 12 will reject its request if there is some overlap in the time frame of the reservation recorded in its memory, or otherwise, will add the reservation to its memory. Finally, once the guided vehicle passed the interlocking track device 11, 12, said interlocking track device 11, 12 releases its status from locked to released, being thus ready for establishing a new route for a new approaching guided vehicle.

[0020] To summarize, the method and the interlocking track device according to the present invention have the following advantages :

• they make the interlocking track device self-sufficient and autonomous for handling request of approaching guided vehicles over time, wherein bidirectional communication between the guided vehicle and the interlocking track device allows to exchange data relative to the locking and release of the interlocking track device;
• they develop an architecture which facilitates the management of approaching guided vehicles at interlocking area;
• they allow a simple management of priority of approaching guided vehicles;
• they improve the efficiency of the interlocking track device;
• they allow a save of cost, notably by avoiding the use of a wayside/certralized interlocking logic and cabling;
• increased availability (if a device becomes unavailable because of a technical fault this unavailability remains local).

Claims

1. Method for establishing and managing a route (4) at an interlocking area (1) for an approaching guided vehicle (3), the method comprising the steps of :

- a wireless reception by an interlocking track device (11) of the interlocking area (1) of a request for a reservation of the interlocking track device (11), wherein said request is remotely and wirelessly sent by the approaching guided vehicle (3) ;

- a determination whether a temporal overlap of said reservation with another reservation occurs, wherein said another reservation is recorded in a memory of the interlocking track device (11), and

■ if no overlap is determined, then recording said reservation in the memory and wirelessly confirming the reservation to the approaching guided vehicle (3),

■ if an overlap is determined, then returning to said approaching guided vehicle (3) a message rejecting its request; and

- a control/command of the interlocking track device (11) according to each recorded reservation for locking or releasing the interlocking track device (11).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said reservation comprises an identification of the approaching guided vehicle (3), a temporal starting point T1 and duration D1 for locking the interlocking track device (11) from said temporal starting point T1 for said duration D1 for the approaching guided vehicle (3).

3. Method according to one of the claims 1 or 2, wherein said reservation comprises data for configuring the route (4) at the interlocking area (1).

4. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 3, comprising a cancellation of a recorded reservation for a specific approaching guided vehicle, and returning to said specific approaching guided vehicle a high priority message announcing said cancellation.

5. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 4, comprising a release of the interlocking track device (11) once said approaching guided vehicle (3) passed the interlocking.

6. Method according to one of the claims 1-5, wherein temporally successive requests are treated in their temporal order of succession and/or according to a priority ranking.

7. Method according to one of the claims 1-6, wherein simultaneous requests are treated according to a priority ranking and if they have a same rank of priority, according to a position of the approaching guided vehicle (3) compared to the position of the interlocking area (1).

8. Interlocking track device (11) configured for establishing and managing a route (4) for an approaching guided vehicle (3) at an interlocking area (1), said interlocking track device (11) comprising:

- a wireless communication device (22) for remotely communicating with at least one guided vehicle;

- an intelligent control system (23) configured for managing a request fox reservation of the interlocking track device (11) for the approaching guided vehicle (3), wherein said intelligent control system (23) is able to determine whether said reservation temporally overlaps with another reservation, said intelligent control system comprising :

■ a memory for recording said reservation if and only if no overlap has been determined;

■ a command module configured for locking the interlocking track device according to each reservation recorded in said memory.

9. Interlocking track device (11) according to claim 8, wherein said interlocking track device (11) is able to handle several requests of several approaching guided vehicles (3) at the same time.

10. Interlocking track device (11) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said reservation comprises an identification of the approaching guided vehicle (3), a temporal starting point T1 and duration D1.

11. Interlocking track device (11) according to one of the claims 8 to 10, wherein the command module of the intelligent control system (23) is able to release the interlocking track device (11) once the approaching guided vehicle (3) passed the interlocking.

12. Interlocking track device (11) according to one of the claims 8-11, wherein the communication device (22) of the interlocking track device (11) is wirelessly connectable to an approaching guided vehicle (3).

13. Interlocking track device (11) according to one of the claims 8-12, wherein the intelligent control system (23) is capable of commanding the release of the route (4) at the interlocking area (1) once the approaching guided vehicle (3) passed said interlocking.

14. System for managing a route (4) for a guided vehicle (3) approaching an interlocking area (1), said system comprising:

- an onboard control system (21) configured for being mounted onboard said guided vehicle (3), said onboard control system (21) being capable to wirelessly and remotely communicate with a wireless communication device (22) of the interlocking track device (11) according to one of the claims 8-13, the onboard control system (21) being further able to create and send a request to said wireless communication device (22) for reserving said interlocking track device (11) according to a predetermined route (4) ;

- said interlocking track device (11) according to one of the claims 8-13.

15. System according to claims 14, wherein the onboard control system (21) is able to determine the route (4) of the guided vehicle (3) at said interlocking track device (11), a temporal starting point T1 and duration D1.

Drawing